Adobe Gallery Blog
San Ildefonso Painting of a Pottery Design Green Parrot by Santana Martinez - C3874E
Santana Roybal, sister of Alfonso Roybal (Awa Tsireh), was 9 years old when she attended the San Ildefonso Day School in the year 1900. She studied under Esther Hoyt during Hoyt's first year of teaching at the pueblo. Santana was one of just six students in the class that first year. She and Tonita Peña were the only two girls. Hoyt provided her students with watercolor paints and paper and let them paint pictures of pueblo items and functions. This was against the government's policy of assimilating the pueblo people and divorcing them from their native ways and religion. Hoyt apparently ignored that policy. She continued as the teacher until 1907.
Santana eventually married Adam Martinez, oldest son of Marie and Julian Martinez. In doing so, she was destined to become a potter, which she did. Early in her life and occasionally later in life, Santana made paintings as a relief from the tedious process of pottery making.